Track press and track assembly tool therefor



y 1963 J. s. RODGERS 3,

TRACK PRESS AND TRACK ASSEMBLY TOOL THEREFOR Filed March 50, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I N I I I, W

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Arromvers July 16, 1963 J. s. RODGERS 3,097,477

TRACK PRESS AND TRACK ASSEMBLY TOOL THEREFOR Filed March 30, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JfaMe's 5. 201265125 Armamen- July 16, 1963 J. 5. RODGERS 7 TRAGK PRESS AND TRACK ASSEMBLY TOOL THEREFOR Filed March 30, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 /0o 1 /0/ FIG :5

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lirramvers United States Patent 3,097,477 TRACK PRESS AND TRACK ASSEMBLY TOOL THEREFOR James S. Rodgers, Adams Run, S.C., assignor to Rodgers Hydraulic Inc, Minneapolis; Minn., a corporation of Minnesota.

Filed Mar. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 99,582 6 Claims. (Cl. 59-7) This invention relates to improvements in track presses and to an improved track assembly tool therefor.

A number of track presses have been previously described. One example of such a press is illustrated by a copendiug application of lames'H; Pahl, Serial No. 16,740, filed-March 22, 1960.

As a resultofthe severe operating requirements of the tracks or treads of crawler typetractors particularly in view of the'fact that these machines must operate in sandy ground, relatively rapid abrasion of the pivotally connected track parts takes place. Because of this wear, the tracks must be periodically serviced. Servicing requires that the tracks be taken from the machine and disassembled. Depending upon circumstances, either replacement of parts or resetting of worn parts may be required. ln repair of the track, complete disassembly will not always be required. As few parts as necessary are removedfor replacement while others can be shifted in position or reset to present unworn portions to further wear thus restoring the track to effective operating condition. This repair operation, of course, must be carried out as rapidly and inexpensively as possible. The present invention is particularly concerned with reassembly of the track after it has been thus serviced.

Heretofore considerable difiiculty has been experienced in maintaining proper clearances bet-ween relatively movable parts of the track in making these repairs and adjustments. This is due to the fact that different links often show different amounts of wear. For this reason, each link may have to be press fitted onto eachbushing a different distance to establish the same clearance between parts. In the event that a new part is used in a repaired track section, the parts must, of course, be positioned differently than the parts of a worn track section. Previously, in order to compensate for the difference in the wear of the'different links, bushings and pins, make-shift devices have sometimes been resorted to.

One of the make-shift methods used previously for this purpose is-the placement of a spacer or shim of a selected gauge between the assembly tool and the tool bracket to hold the assembly tool at a selected spacing from the tool mounted bracket. It was found, however, that these spacersoften had to be changed to compensate for Wear diiferences from one track section to another. Moreover, the'spacers would sometimes extrude laterally from the parts between which they were placed and in some cases wouldeven fuse to these parts. These difficulties result from the fact that assembly of the tracks require as much as 150 tons of pressure. The performance ofsuc'n shims has thus proved to be unsatisfactory.

Another problem which results from wear differences among the track sections is the problem of achieving accurate alignment of the holesin the track pad with the holes in the links. It is, of course, necessary to 3 provide accurate alignment of the holes in order to enable the bolts connecting the track pad and the link to be dropped into place;

A still further problem encountered in assembly of the track results-from the fact that the bushings may be positioned off center during assembly due to the diiference in theamount of wear atthe ends thereof.

Thus in view of these. problems in the prior art, it isoneimportant object of this invention to provide an im- 3,097,477 Patented July 16, 19%3 tered regardless of the differences in the amount of Wear in either the bushings, pins or links.

It is still another object of the presentinvention to provide an improved track press assembly tool which will permit accurate and consistent maintenance of desired clearances between the links, bushings and pins regardless of the amount of wear in the parts.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improved track assembly tool which enables the operator of the track press to quickly and easily align the track pad bolt holes with the corresponding holes in the track link in spite of Wearing differences from one track section to another.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved track assembly tool which allows accurate and rapid adjustment of the distance of lateral extension of the track bushings beyond the side edges of the links.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide an improved track press and adjustable track assembly tool which is'rugged in construction and reliable in operation, which can be economically manufacturedand will withstand severe pressures such as pressures on the order of tons without any change in the established tool setting.

With the above objects in mind the present invention provides a track press and improved track assembly tool therefor, including afrarne, a pressure means, such as a pair of opposed coaxial cylinders and rams to force the links of a section of track onto the pins and bushings of the track. The improved assembly tool is carried on the pressure means and comprises a link engaging member and a bushing engaging member. The link engaging member and the bushing engaging member are movably connected to each other andmeans is provided for selectively changing the axial'distance of. separation between the portion of the link engaging member adapted to contact the link and the portion of the bushingengaging member adapted to contact the bushings.

The link engaging member preferably comprises aring telescopically mounted on the bushing engagingmember. The means for selectively changing the axial distance. between the above two mentioned portions preferably comprises abutting ramp or camsurfaces on both the ring and the bushingengaging members. These cams are positioned to extend helically around the longitudinal axis of the tool which is itself the axis of movement of the tool on the press. These surfaces are also concentric with the center of the toolwhereby relative rotational movement of the ring on the bushing. engaging member will change the axial distance between the por-" tions of the tool engaging the links and the bushings. According to the preferred form of the invention, the improved assembly tools are used in pairs, one positioned on each side of the track section being worked upon.

These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed in the course ofthe following'specifi cation; reference being'h'ad to the accompanying. drawings, in which-- FIG. 1 is a plan view'of the track press and assembly tool employing the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan'view of the track press of FIG. 1 partly broken'away showing the track parts immediately preceding assembly ofthe links on the pins andbushings.

FIG. 3 is a sectional View through a track and track press and track assembly tool according to the present invention'illustrating the links immediately after assembly.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the improved track assembly tool according to the'present invention;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken through the track assembly tool of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view taken along line 66 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a View taken along line 77 of FIG. 4.

As has been mentioned above the track is made up of a plurality of identical link assemblies for convenience hereinafter referred to as sections. These sections are pivotably connected by cross members and constitute a string of track normally endless to function as a large and heavy sprocket chain operating over the sprockets of a tractor (not shown). When the track is to be serviced or otherwise worked upon, the track is removed from the Vehicle, layed out straight and introduced into the track press as a long string of connected sections.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 a plurality of connected sections of track are designated generally at A and comprises as their components spaced apart side links B and C apertured adjacent the ends thereof to receive cross members in the form of a pin D and a bushing E. When assembled, one such pin is telescoped into and pivotally mounted within each bushing. The links C and B are so shaped that when properly assembled, they have relatively wide spread ends and more closely spaced ends and it is to the latter that the ends of the bushings B will press very tightly in the initial fabrication and reassembly of the track.

As seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the closely spaced ends of the next adjacent side links of each adjacent section fit between the wide spread ends of the side links B and C with another bushing E pressed in place and a pin D telescoped through this bushing and press fitted into the wide spread ends of the side links. This arrangement is repeated throughout the length of the track and the alternate press fitting of the bushings and pins into the opposite ends of the track sections hold them in assembly but the telescopic relationship between the pins and bushings permits the necessary pivotal, flexing motion between the track sections. The pins and bushings are tightly fitted to the links and must be forced into the links under very high pressures up to as much as 150 tons in order that the track will remain in assembly and resist the relatively tremendous strains and stresses to which it is subjected in operation. Thus great power is needed to press the pins and bushings out of the side links in disassembling the track and also in pressing the side links back in place in reassembling the track, as will be readily. appreciated by those skilled in the art.

In addition each track section includes a shoe or pad which for-ms the actual ground engaging surface and these are generally flat metal pieces cap screwed or bolted to the side links B and C of each section. These pads are designated throughout at F and their mounting screws at G while the openings for the latter appear at H in FIG. 2 only. Mating openings J. in FIGS. 2 and 3 are provided in the links for the screws G.

The press comprises a main frame 10 including heavy front and rear beams or webs 11 and 12 cross connected by frame elements including ends 13 and 14 and carried upon a base 15 including a plurality of legs (not shown) to support the press from the floor. A control structure 18 is mounted on the base frame to control the fluid pumps which provide hydraulic fluid under pressure for operation of the working parts of the press. Description of these elements is not regarded as necessary to an understanding of my invention.

The track being worked upon is moved toward or away from the press frame 10 by a conveyor 19 to a work table 17 including right and left supports 20* and 21 respectively. Mounted for upward and downward movement between the supports 20 and 21 in the center of frame 10 is a retractable jaw 23. Jaw 23 is held against lateral movement by portions of the frame on either side thereof.

F In the ends 13 and 14 of frame 10 are horizontally mounted 'a pair of coaxial ram cylinders 25 and 26 in 4 which rams 27 and 28 are reciprocatably mounted for movement toward and away from the center of the frame 10. By the selective admission of fluid under pressure to the opposite ends of each cylinder, the rams can be moved toward and away from the track section being worked upon. Rams 27 and 28 have ram heads 29 and 30 upon their inner ends and are provided with a stroke limiting means comprising heavy rods 31 secured to front and rear ends of the ram heads 29 and M and fitted with adjustable stop nuts 32 as shown in FIG. 1.

Tool bars 33 and 34 are removably mounted by means of cap screws, as seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. Upon the tool bars 33 and 34 are mountedsuitable front and rear tool brackets 35 which project inwardly in proper spacing to coincide with the axis of the pins and bushings of the track section in working position on the press.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 2, there is shown a track section in position between the front and rear assembly tools 35. The links are shown in the position they occupy just before the links are press fitted onto the pin D at one end and the bushing E at the other end. At this stage of the assembly, the track pad F, only a portion of which is shown, is attached to the right link C and is unattached to the left link B. The holes H and J, for placement of the bolts connecting the pad F and link B will, of course, be out of alignment. As the ram members 29 and 30 move inwardly, the links B and C move toward each other, one end of each link being press fitted onto pin D and the other end of each being pressed fitted into bushing E thereby bringing the holes H in pad F into alignment with the holes I in the link C.

The improved assembly tool 39 according to the present invention can be best seen in FIGS. 3 to 7. The assembly tool 39 is mounted on the rear tool bracket 35. A conventional tool 36 is used on the front tool bracket 35 to press the links onto pin D.

The tool 39 comprises a bushing engaging member 90 which can be attached in any suitable manner to the rear tool bracket 35, for example, by means of a screw 92. The member 90 is preferably generally cylindrical in shape and may include an axial recess 94 on the inward face thereof. The member 90 is provided with a reduced outside diameter at 96. The inwardly facing surface thereof thus forms a bushing engaging portion 98. Telescopically and rotatably mounted overportion 98 is a link engaging member or ring 100. The inward end surface of ring 100 comprises a link engaging portion 103.

The outward end surface of ring member 100 as well as a portion of member adjacent the base of portion 98 are provided with abutting cams or ramps designated 106 and 108 respectively. These cam surfaces include lobes having one side thereof inclined at a slight angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis of the movement of the assembly tool 90 as can be best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5.

While a single lobe may be provided on each of cam surfaces 106 and 108, I prefer to employ two lobes designated as 106a and 10612 on the ring 100, and two lobes designated 108a and 108b on the body portion 90. The height of the lobes should, of course, be adjusted to suit the requirements of the particular press being used. It has been found in practice that by making each lobe about W inch in height at its highest point, the assembly tool performs well for most application. 7

The cam surfaces 106 and 108 extend helically around members 100 and 90 with the longitudinal axis of the tool as the center thereof, the longitudinal axis of the tool being parallel to the axis of ram movement. The cam surfaces 106 and 108 also project radially outward of said longitudinal axis at any point along their length, and cancel everything after extending on line 28. The cam surfaces are preferably circular and concentric with the center of the tool.

A locking means such as set screw 101 projecting through ring member 100 can be used to secure the ring 100 to bushing engaging member 90. The set screw 101 is, provided for the purpose of assuring that the ring 100 will not separate from member 90 between the time one track section is assembled and the next track section is assembled rather than to hold the setting between parts 90 and 100 at the time the sections are pressed together. It :has been found that the use of a locking means, such as set screw 101, can be considered optional.

After set screw 101 is loosened, the ring portion 100 can be rotated about the axis of member 90.. As the ring is thus rotated, the cam surf-aces 106 and 108 will cause the ring to move axially with respect to the member 90. By this means it is possible to accurately adjust the axial distance between the inward face 98 of the bushing engaging member 90 and the link engaging surface 103;

When the desired setting is established, the set screw 101 can be tightened to secure the ring in position. The tool 39eis now ready for use.

It can be seen that as the rams 29 and 30 are forced inwardly, links B and C are carried from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position of FIG. 3, the closely spaced ends of the links being pressed onto bushing E by tools 39 and the other ends thereof being pressed onto the pinD by the tools 36. The force exerted by the rams 29 and 30, is transmitted through brackets 35 to member 90 and through the engagement between cam surfaces 106 and 108 to the ring 100. The ring surfaces 103 abut against the links thereby causing the latter to move inwardly. Inward movement of the links will continue until the portion 98 of bushing engaging member 90 abuts or bottoms against the ends of the bushings as shown in FIG. 3.

Contact between the bushing ends and portions 98 will, of course, prevent further inward movement of the rams, tools and links. The links B and C are in this way accurately positioned on the bushings E with the ends of the bushings projecting a predetermined distance beyond the outside surfaces of the links.

It can thus be seen that the use of stop limiting means connected to the rams 29 and 30, such as stops 32, need not be dependent upon to establish the distance of projection of the bushing ends beyond the side edges of the links. Instead, a much more positive and exactly reproducible means is employed for this purpose, viz. the provision for allowing the bushing ends to bottom against the inward face of bushing engaging member 90 and the provision for enabling the axial distance between link engaging surface 103 and the ring 100 and member 90 to be selectively changed as required.

As can be best seen in FIG. 3, the above described adjustment of tool 39 will establish accurately the distance of the projection of the ends of the bushing member E laterally beyond the side edges of link members B and C. By providing the same setting in both right and left tools 39, accurate centering of the bushing E can also be readily achieved.

Since the distance of the projection of bushing E beyond the side edges of links B and C can be easily adjusted as desired. The clearance designated 110 between the bushings E and the links B and C, as well as the clearance designated 112 between each link and the adjacent link, can be accurately maintained. It should be noted that the ends of the pins D do not in ordinary circumstances receive much wear, therefore, the front tools 36 will always press the links B and C the same distance onto the pins D.

As can be seen, the improved track press and track assembly tool of the present invention provides a rapid and efiicient means for accurately adjusting the clearance between pivotally connected track parts regardless of the amount of Wear between the parts. The tool 39 can be easily and quickly changed from one setting to another. Moreover, the invention provides a means for quickly and easily centering the link members B and C on the bushings. When the tracks are being assembled, a slight change in the setting of the improved assembly tool can be made to allow the bolt holes in the track pads to be easily andquickly, aligned withthe corresponding holes in the track link. The improved apparatus according to the present invention is surprisingly rugged, has proven to be reliable under actual service conditions and has speeded up the repair of tracks significantly.

Surprisingly enough, even though the inclined cam surfaces 106 and 108 tend to produce a torque between the ring 100 and thebody portion 90, as the track. is pressed together, it was found that the ring had no tendency to twist on the body portion and thereby alter the selected setting between the parts as the track was pressed together.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire.

to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A track press for repairing track sections having a plurality of links connected together by bushings and pins comprising in combination a frame, a pressure means afiixed to said frame, said pressure means including a ram head movable inwardly and outwardly along an axis toward and away from one of said track sections, support means forsaid track, a track assembly tool connected to said ram headfor movement therewith, said tool comprising a link engaging member, said link engaging member having ,a portion adapted to abut against the side of one of said links, a bushing engaging member, said bushing engaging member having a portion adapted to abut against the end of one of said bushings, abutment means at one-side of said support means opposite said assembly tool adapted to abut the other end of said bushing, said link engaging member being movably connected to said bushing engaging. member and adjustment means for selectively moving said link engaging member with respect to said bushing engaging member on a path parallel to said axis whereby the axial distance between the portion of said linkengaging member adapted to contact said link and the portion of said bushing engaging member adapted to abut against said bushing can be varied as desired, said adjustment means including interengaging cam surfaces on the link engaging member and the bushing engaging member for adjusting the outward movement of said link gngaging member relative to said bushing engaging mem- 2. A track press of the class described comprising a frame, a pressure means affixed to said frame, said pres sure means including a ram head, a work table connected to said frame, said work table being adapted to receive and support a section of track upon which work is to be performed, a track assembly tool connected rigidly to said ram head for movement therewith along an axis extending toward and away from said work table, said track assembly tool comprising a bushing engaging member rigidly affixed to said ram head, said bushing engaging member having a portion adapted to abut against the end of said bushing, abutment means at one side of said support means opposite said assembly tool and adapted to abut the other end of said bushing, a link engaging member movably connected to said bushing engaging member for movement with respect thereto along a path parallel to said axis, a first cam surface on said link engaging member, and a second cam surface on said bushing engaging member, said first and second cam surfaces being positioned to extend helically around the longitudinal axis of said tool as their centers and projecting radially therefrom, said axis being parallel to the axis of ram movement, relative rotational movement between said cam surfaces being adapted to move said link engaging member axially with respect to said bushing engaging member whereby the axial distance is changed between said bushing engaging portion and said link engaging portion.

3. A track press of the character described for performing work upon track and track links comprising a frame, a first and second pressure means mounted coaxially on said frame, first and second rams movably connected to said first and second pressure means respectively, a work table between said first and second rams, said work table being adapted to receive and support a section of track upon which work is to be performed, said rams being adapted to move toward and away from said work table, first and second track assembly tools afiixed to said first and second rams respectively for movement therewith, each of said tools comprising a link engaging member having a portion adapted to abut against a link, a bushing engaging member rigidly connected to a respective one of said rams, each said bushing engaging member having a portion adapted to abut one end of a bushing, each such link engaging member being movably connected to one of said bushing engaging members and cam means for selectively changing the axial distance between said bushing engaging portion and said link engaging portion.

4, A track press for pressing track links onto track bushings comprising a frame, a pair of coaxial hydraulic cylinders rigidly connected to said frame, a track support means, a ram slida-bly mounted in each such cylinder, an assembly tool connected to each said ram for movement therewith, each said tool comprising a bushing engaging member rigidly connected to a respective one of said rams, said bushing engaging member having a portion thereon adapted to contact one end of a bushing, a link engaging member rotatably mounted over said bushing engaging member and movable axially with respect thereto, said link engaging member having a portion thereon adapted to engage a link, a first cam surface on said link engaging member, a second cam surface on said bushing engaging member in abutting relationship with said first cam surface, said cam surfaces being positioned to extend helically around the longitudinal axis of said tool and radially therefrom, said longitudinal axis being parallel to the axis of movement of said rams, relative rotational movement of said link engaging member with respect to said bushing engaging member being adapted to cause said first cam surface to slide on said second cam surface and thereby change the axial distance between said bushing engaging portion and link engaging portion.

5. A track assembly tool, for use on a track press having'a ram and being adapted to assemble track links and bushings, comprising in combination a cylindrical bushing engaging member, said bushing engaging member having a cylindrical extension integral therewith, said bushing engaging member being adapted to be secured rigidly to said ram, a first helical cam surface on said bushing engaging member at the base of cylindrical extension, said first cam surface having the axis of said cylindrical extension as the center thereof, a first and second lobe on said first cam surface, said first and second lobes each including a surface inclined at a small angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis of said cylindrical extension, the free end of said cylindrical extension comprising a bushing engaging portion, a link engaging ring telescopically mounted on said cylindrical extension, said ring including a link engaging surface on the free end thereof and a second helical cam surface on the other end thereof adapted to contact said first helical cam surface, said second cam surface also having the axis of said cylindrical portion as the center thereof, said second cam surface including a 'pair of lobes each such lobe having a portion inclined at a small angle to a plane perpendicular to the axis of said link engaging member, said first and second cam surfaces being normally in contact with each other, rotational movement of said ring member relative to said bushing engaging member being adapted to cause said first cam surface to slide on second cam surface thereby changing the axial distance between said link engaging portion and said bushing engaging portion.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein a locking means is operatively connected to said link engaging ring for locking said link engaging ring in a selected position with respect to said bushing engaging member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 240,780 Smith Apr. 26, 1881 1,370,116 Johnson Mar. 1, 1921 2,445,602 Casaroll July 20, 1948 

1. A TRACK PRESS FOR REPAIRING TRACK SECTIONS HAVING A PLURALITY OF LINKS CONNECTED TOGETHER BY BUSHINGS AND PINS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A FRAME, A PRESSURE MEANS AFFIXED TO SAID FRAME, SAID PRESSURE MEANS INCLUDING A RAM HEAD MOVABLE INWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY ALONG AN AXIS TOWARD AND AWAY FROM ONE OF SAID TRACK SECTIONS, SUPPORT MEANS FOR SAID TRACK, A TRACK ASSEMBLY TOOL CONNECTED TO SAID RAM HEAD FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH, SAID TOOL COMPRISING A LINK ENGAGING MEMBER, SAID LINK ENGAGING MEMBER HAVING A PORTION ADAPTED TO ABUT AGAINST THE SIDE OF ONE OF SAID LINKS, A BUSHING ENGAGING MEMBER, SAID BUSHING ENGAGING MEMBER HAVING A PORTION ADAPTED TO ABUT AGAINST THE END OF ONE OF SAID BUSHINGS, ABUTMENT MEANS AT ONE SIDE OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS OPPOSITE SAID ASSEMBLY TOOL ADAPTED TO ABUT THE OTHER END OF SAID BUSHING, SAID LINK ENGAGING MEMBER BEING MOVABLY CONNECTED TO SAID BUSHING ENGAGING MEMBER AND ADJUSTMENT MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY MOVING SAID LINK ENGAGING MEMBER WITH RESPECT TO SAID BUSHING ENGAGING MEMBER ON A PATH PARALLEL TO SAID AXIS WHEREBY THE AXIAL DISTANCE BETWEEN THE PORTION OF SAID LINK ENGAGING MEMBER ADAPTED TO CONTACT SAID LINK AND THE PORTION OF SAID BUSHING ENGAGING MEMBER ADAPTED TO ABUT AGAINST SAID BUSHING CAN BE VARIED AS DESIRED, SAID ADJUSTMENT MEANS INCLUDING INTERENGAGING CAM SURFACES ON THE LINK ENGAGING MEMBER AND THE BUSHING ENGAGING MEMBER FOR ADJUSTING THE OUTWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID LINK ENGAGING MEMBER RELATIVE TO SAID BUSHING ENGAGEMENT MEMBER. 